Selenksyy unveils plans for fresh prisoner swap with Russia
Loosening Chains: Zelensky Announces Major Prisoner Swap Agreement with Russia – But the ‘Kidnapped’ Children Remain a Sticking Point
In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed plans for a substantial prisoner exchange with Russia. According to Zelensky, the swap has been set in motion after documents were exchanged through a Turkish intermediary. This announcement was made during a visit to Lithuania, following a negotiating session between the two parties in Istanbul.
Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine was prepared to release a significant number of prisoners of war, though the exact figure hasn't been disclosed. The Ukrainian President's advisor, Andriy Yermak, revealed that during the Istanbul talks, a list of several hundred children – who have been illegally abducted or are being held in Russian-occupied territories – was handed over to Moscow.
While the prisoner exchange negotiations offer a glimmer of hope, the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children remains a contentious issue. Speaking after the Istanbul talks, Zelensky emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin should not receive any rewards for his actions against Ukraine. Instead, such a move would simply encourage Putin to continue waging war, according to Zelensky.
The Istanbul talks concluded after over an hour, with the Turkish Foreign Ministry reporting no negative outcomes. However, the issue of the illegally held children has yet to be resolved, and no formalized plans for their return have been agreed upon. With discussions surrounding the return of these children still underway, Ukraine is hopeful that an eventual resolution will be reached.
[1] - [Source: ntv.de][2] - [Source: AFP][Enrichment Data: These sources provide additional information about the potential prisoner exchange, including the estimated number of participants, the involvement of severely injured and younger soldiers, political prisoners, journalists, and Ukrainian children who have been abducted or forcibly transferred by Russia. The return of these children has not yet been officially addressed in the latest agreements between Ukraine and Russia.]
The community policy of Ukraine, in conjunction with the employment policy, is being employed to facilitate a significant prisoner exchange agreed upon by President Zelensky and Russia. This political matter, falling under the general-news category, involves the release of numerous prisoners of war, as well as the sensitive issue of the return of illegally abducted or forcibly transferred Ukrainian children, which remains a contentious point in these discussions.
